There's a door in Rome that remains sealed for a quarter of a century, opened only in moments of profound significance. Once again in December of 2024 this door was opened, the door in question, that of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in the heart of Rome. The opening of this bronze giant calls to pilgrims from around there world to take part in something extraordinary, a cleansing of the soul.
So what makes the Holy door at the Vatican so special?
I want you to imagine yourself standing before a three-story bronze piece of artwork, not just any artwork however, a masterpiece. The stories from the bible inlaid like pieces of glass in a crittall frame.
Image By Dnalor 01, CC BY-SA 3.0, for creative commons
The holy door at the Vatican was created by Vico Consorti in 1949*1, and is weights some serious tonnage. The door is gleaming, it has been touched by millions of pilgrims and this year will be touched my many more. Each pilgrim with their own story to tell seeing a fleeting intimate moment of pure surrender of control and acceptance of the divine.
From the moment of humanity's fall in Eden to the promise of redemption. The scenes upon the door have each been carefully selected to ensure they speak to pilgrims from all walks of life and from all backgrounds regardless of faith.
A Journey Through Art
As light catches the gold-leaf details, the door transforms begins to play with your eyes, the stories extruding from the canvas as though they are reaching for you and inviting you to explore the scene. The central divide of the door and the bronze framings are perfectly positions to echo a cross and draw your eye in; a masterclass in Renaissance perspective that modern architects still study.*2
Look closely at the lower panels, where centuries of touching hands have worn the bronze to a warm patina. These worn spots tell their own story of hopes, prayers, and the human need to connect physically with something greater than ourselves. This is not an isolated practice to Christianity.
Image By Dnalor 01, CC BY-SA 3.0, for creative commons
Look 3 along and one up, and you will see a gilded bronze panel showing Jesus with his hands tied while he looks towards Peter, who is repentant for having denied him before the rooster crowed. If you want a more detailed look at this and (are on a desktop), look around the virtual tour of the basilica on the Vatican home page. Here you will see the stunning level of detail applied to each and every panel.
The Secret Life of the Holy Door
Few know that behind the visible door a solid wall is ceremonially demolished before each Jubilee year begins. This tradition dates back to the 15th century, symbolising the removal of barriers between humanity and divine mercy.*2
Crossing this threshold during the Jubilee isn't just walking through a door; it's stepping into a space where art, faith, and history collide.
As you step though the space your eye is drawn through the nave to the chair of St.Peters monument, above this you will see a stained glass window with the dove of the holy spirit roughly 20 meters above floor level. Catch it at the right time and it will look as though it has been lit up by the gods themselves.
If this is not enough, Immediately to your right, Michelangelo's Pietà draws gasps from even the most seasoned travellers. The marble appears to float, defying both gravity and our understanding of stone's limitations.
As you begin to walk through your will notice your feet feeling as though they are almost gliding. Look down and you will see a perfectly crafted floor, an element all to often overlooked in place of the marvels that surround you, however you will see beautiful geometries and pattens made up in stunning marbles, the material marble profiled skirtings pass the materiality seamlessly to the walls, cornices sweep the building and domes carry over. The environment is architecturally rich before adding the sculptures, paintings and The Baldacchino in the centre of it all. If you find yourself in this space wanting to understand more there are options of audio guides and naturally maps of the areas and spaces. The resource I linked above is fantastic to explore before you go or if you want a more personal experience that you can organise a professional guide. Sometimes (and the reason I set up Backpackers Blueprint was to help us all explore architecture at a greater dept) you can forgo a guide, however this is one place I would really recommend a guide. The depth in each and every avenue and turn not just at St.Peters, but in Rome generally is so vast, finding a specialist in each area is worth every penny.
So how do we explore Rome? The Practical Guide
Here's where we get real about experiencing Rome during the Jubilee:
- Early mornings aren't just for amazing photos – they're your ticket to avoiding the crowds that can make St. Peter's (actually most iconic sites in Rome) feel like a music festival by midday!
- The best views come free – position yourself near the obelisk in St. Peter's Square at sunrise to watch the door catch first light. If I am honest, I think this will likely be almost impossibility this jubilee year, however you never know!
- Local tip: The tiny Raffaello's Bar serves €1 espresso and is a stones throw from the Vatican it may be worth grabbing a coffee as the queue/ waits are going to be long, even with skip the queue or priority passes.
- Avoid the pickpocket: For those who have check out our London city guide, you will know I have a couple of items I propose you take to avoid having things taken, in the crowds and crowds of Rome make sure you have the following items with you so you leave with everything you take. An anti-theft bag like a Maxtop or a Pacsafe Crossbody Bag. An alternate to this is to simply use the day bag you have but lock your zips together with a TSA approved lock.
If your phone is your navigation and camera of choice, make sure to have it strapped to you or your person with something like this.
How do we get to St.Peters
There are several option for getting to Vatican City and St. Peters Basilica.
The easiest way is by taking the Metro Line A (the orange line) to Ottaviano–San Pietro station, which is just a short walk from the Vatican walls (around 10 mins).
Alternatively, several bus routes, including 40, 62, and 64, stop near St. Peter’s Square. If you prefer walking, the Vatican is about 20–30 minutes on foot from the historic centre, offering scenic views along the way. Arrive early to beat the crowds, especially if you’re visiting the Vatican Museums or climbing St. Peter’s dome.
Metro Map:
When in Rome
Rome is so rich with architectural heritage, beyond the holy door and the major pilgrim sites. The truth of the matter is that this year particularly is going to be extremely busy. The best way to try and separate yourself form the crowds and get a deeper understanding of the history and the design of Rome is through a guided tour with a specialist architectural historian, archaeologist or even an architect. The link provided even allows you to ditch the group and have a private guided session if you want a more personal experience. The same tour provider also does moonlight session (8pm), a more romantic and intimate option. Or you could take a private 6pm tour and then go for an evening meal. What a way to spend a few hours in Rome, or win some serious couple points if you are looking for a way to treat a loved one.
For the intelligent explorer
Sources
*1 - Vatican Museums Official Archives
*2 - 'Vatican Architecture: Form and Faith,' Giuseppe Romano, 2023.
*3 - 'Holy Year Ceremonies Through History,' Vatican Historical Society, 2022
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